RUNNELLS STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Runnells, Iowa

RUNNELLS STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Runnells, Polk County, Iowa. Serving a small population of 306, the plant provides secondary treatment to meet local environmental standards. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and its operations are part of the broader wastewater infrastructure in central Iowa. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this scale. With a designed capacity of 238.48 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent from RUNNELLS STP is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's operations help protect water quality in the region, particularly in the context of agricultural runoff and urban development pressures.

RUNNELLS STP discharges into local streams that flow into the Des Moines River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River basin is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse fish and bird species. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.